Changing Knee Positions It is this rhumba-like maneuver of changing knee positions that gives a person the balance he wants or desires—and this holds true in every day activities, as well as in all athletics and in all sports. As previously indicated, a golf swing is a double-handed, ambidextrous movement. There is an upswing or backstroke that is best made with the right side of the body, and there is a down stroke and follow through that is best made with the left side of the body. So, if a golfer fails to balance himself on his right foot for the upswing, and he fails to rebalance himself on his left foot for the downswing and follow through, you can rest assured this golfer will have difficulty playing the game. In other words, a person cannot use his body any better than his weight or balance permits him to use his body. Learn to handle your weight and balance so you can execute the type of body motion and body action that is needed. Because this matter of weight and balance, and the footwork with which it is accomplished, is so absolutely essential and yet so perfectly natural, I'd like to discuss it a bit further. We humans are built like the letter X. Our right hand and left foot are but an extension of each other and they always work together. Again, our left hand and right foot are extensions of each other and they, likewise, work together. So when you stand on your right foot, you inhibit and restrict the action of the left hand and left arm. Likewise, when you stand on your left foot, you inhibit and restrict the action of the right hand and right arm. In spite of this obvious muscular arrangement, there is a very common belief among golfers that they are balanced for a golf shot when their weight is evenly divided between both feet. Nothing could be further from the truth and nothing can be more harmful in golf than this idea. On the very basic matter of balance, it is common knowledge that a left-handed person's left foot is larger than his right foot and, conversely, a right-handed person's right foot is larger than his left foot. This all comes about because a left-handed person will usually stand on his left foot, because in this way he balances himself so that he can use his left hand and arm more easily—and for the same reason, a right-handed person usually stands on his right foot. One final thought on this matter of weight and balance and subsequent right-handedness or left-handedness. If a person is terribly right-handed or terribly left-handed, he is lopsided, one-handed, not ambidextrous and not ready and in position. He is not ready for the simple reason that he is not balanced for action, and he cannot balance himself for action because he does not have the necessary footwork to do so. Do not walk up to a golf ball and plant both feet solidly on the ground with weight evenly divided, because you will be really locking up and thereby destroying all chance of an easy, natural swing.
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